Novelty clock and dice device



J. l. MUNVES 2,525,710

NOVELTY CLOCK AND DICE DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1945 INVEN'IDR Joann! I. Mums Oct. 10, 1950 Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOVELTY CLOCK AND DICE DEVICE Joseph I. Munves, New York, N. Y.

- Application November 19, 1945, Serial No. 629,677

ioiaims. (c1. 272F145) This invention relates in general to a novelty device, and in particular to a novelty clock and dice device.

It is a purpose of this invention to provide a novelty device which combines a time indicating device with a means for illustrating the laws of chance.

' It is a further object Of this invention to pro-.

Further objects of the invention asivell as the use and operation thereof will in part be obvious and will in part become apparent from the fol lowing description. Y

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, referencewill be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure 2 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a novelty device according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2. 2

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-.3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a different stage in the operation thereof.

Referring to the figures in detail, there is shown in Fig. 1 a combination novelty device generally designated l comprising a case ll having a window or other transparent opening Him the front thereof, a clock or similar time indicating device [3 on the front wall below the window' l2, and having a plurality of dice l5 orthe like within the case and supported on a floor 14 in the case, the floor being spaced above the bottom of the case to provide a compartment [6 containing the working mechanisms of, the device as will be hereinafter set forth.

The case H has in general a front wall H, the lower portion of which is substantially vertical and contains the clock l3 and the upper portion of which is slanted backward and contains the window 12. The side and rear walls, as well as the bottom of the case are conventional vertical and horizontal members.

Across the case, between the top and the bottom is a floor l4 (refer to Fig. 2) which divides the case into a lower chamber l6 which houses the moving parts and the like, and an upper chamber IE or show case. This floor, as shown in Fig. 2 is a somewhat flexible member, for example a cloth or the like and is adapted to support the dice l5 andyet to transmit to the dice the motion, impact, or the like from the working parts located therebelow.

The construction of the device is shown in Fig. 2, wherein isshown an inside view of the device. A gear 29 is mounted on a shaft 2| which is, for example, connected to theminute hand of the clock, andaccordingly is adapted to turn steadily and slowly. A smaller gear 22 meshes with gear 20, and is mounted on shaft 23 which is thereby caused to move at a more rapid rate of rotation than the shaft 2|. The gear ratio between these two gears 20 and 22 is selected to provide a convenient rate of rotation for shaft 23; for example, a gear ratio of 12 to 1 will cause one rotation of shaft 23 every five minutes when shaft 2| is connected to the minute hand of the clock. Various other gear ratios obviously will have other convenient time effects.

Mounted on shaft 23 is a collar 24 on which in turn are mounted a plurality of flippers 25 which are adapted to contact the floor M at least once which projects a stick 28 or the like which is mounted to the under surface of the floor I4. As the shaft rotates, carrying disk 26, stick 28 causes the floor M to be moved about within the case, thus varying the effect of the flippers on the floor.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown details of the mecha nism by which a snap-like motion is imparted to the floor of the upper chamber. In this form of the invention a flexible flipper 25 is mounted on collar 24 which in turn is integrally mounted on shaft 23. Spaced from the shaft 23 at a distance slightly less than the length of the flipper 25 is a rod or shaft 30 running parallel with shaft 23. under the second shaft 30 and is bent thereby as the shaft 23 continues to rotate and the flipper 25 continues to be bent until shaft 23 has rotated to a sufficient extent to free the flipper from the retaining shaft 30, at which time the flipper is suddenly released and springs against the floor I4, jarring the dice into motion.

To permit the ease of El .mqtion of the floor,

As flipper 25 rotates, it catches this sheet material which is normally somewhat stifi, is mounted on the case H by means of loosely fitting Ushaped members 3| which support the floor and yet permit both an up and down motion caused by the sudden contact of the flipper 25 and the sidewise motion caused by stick 28 coacting with groove 27 in disk 26.

In the figures there are shown a pair of flippers 25 positioned on shaft 23; it is to be understood that in the actual device there will optionally be a series of flippers which are adapted to meet the floor M at a number of different points, thereby causing the floor to be activated without dead or motionless spots.

The present construction provides a combina tion novelty device comprising a clock and dice device. The case is attractively designed, and is suitable for use in advertising displays; optionally advertising cards or the like may be mounted on the outside of the case or within the show chamher [8. Alternatively, the dice may be fashioned with advertising matter of different sorts on the various faces. The combination of the clock and dice device catches the eye of the passing public, and causes the device to become a more noticeable article. At stated intervals, the operation of the working members of the device, as set forth hereinbefore, causes the dice to be projected and turned. Since the operation of the device is purely mechanical and is accordingly free from any possible personal touch, it serves as a valuable illustration of the laws of chance as applied to dice. In addition, the device is a useful advertising display means.

Various modifications may obviously be made in the construction and operation of the device. For example, it has been disclosed that the dice are turned once in each revolution of the shaft 23, or accordingly once in several minutes; of course, the frequency of the turning of the dice may be increased by obvious means such as increasing the number of the flippers. Likewise, the shape and structure of the case may be altered to suit the immediate needs or desires of the occasion. Other obvious modifications will also be possible.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a novelty device having a casing enclosing a horizontal floor of resilient material upon the top face of which dice rest, means supporting the floor for slight shifting movement in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotative beneath the floor, means continuously slowly rotating said shaft, a plurality of flexible flippers extending radially from said shaft at spaced position about he shaft for striking the bottom face of the floor and raising the same to displace and turn the dice resting on the floor, and means operated by the shaft for continuously shifting the floor horizontally to vary the portions thereof which will be engaged by said flippers.

2. In a novelty device having a casing enclosing a horizontal floor of resilient material upon iii) Col

the top face of which dice rest, means supporting the floor for slight shifting movement in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotative beneath the floor, means continuously slowly rotating said shaft, a plurality of flexible flippers extending radially from said shaft at spaced positions about the shaft for striking the bottom face of the floor and raising the same to displace and turn the dice resting on the floor, and means operated by the shaft for continuously shifting the floor horizontally to vary the portions thereof which will be engaged by said flippers, and means for causing said flippers to engage the bottom face of the floor with a snapping action.

3. In a novelty device having a casing enclosing a horizontal floor of resilient material upon the top face of which dice rest, means supporting the floor for slight shifting movement in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotative beneath the floor, means continuously slowly rotatin said shaft, a plurality of flexible flippers extending radially from said shaft at spaced positions about the shaft for striking the bottom face of the floor and raise the same to displace and turn the dice resting on the floor, and means operated by the shaft for continuously shifting the floor horizontally to vary the portions thereof which will be engaged by said flippers, and a second shaft mounted in the path traversed by the free ends of said flexible flippers and at a position slightly before said flippers engage the bottom face of the floor for slightly retarding movement of the free ends of said flippers while said first shaft continues to turn until the free ends of said flippers snap past said second shaft and engage the bottom face of the floor with a snapping action.

4. In a novelty device having a casing enclosing a horizontal floor of resilient material upon the top face of which dice rest, means supporting the floor for slight shifting movement in a horizontal plane, a shaft rotative beneath the floor, means continuously slowly rotating said shaft, a plurality of flexible flippers extending radially from said shaft at spaced positions about the shaft for striking the bottom face of the floor and raise the same to displace and turn the dice resting on the floor, and means operated by the shaft for continuously shifting the floor horizontally to vary the portions thereof which will be engaged by said flippers, said latter-mentioned means comprising a disc mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and formed about its periphery with a continuous curved groove, and a stick depending from the bottom face of the floor and having its bottom end engaged in said groove.

JOSEPH I. MUNVES;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 187,686 Wedesweiler Feb. 20, 1877 1,545,903 Junghans July 14, 1925 2,073,205 Grunig Mar. 9, 1937 2,205,572 McCann et a1, June 25, 1940,

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 610,715 France June 14, 1926 

